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The Top Springbrook National Park Walks for First-Timers

Springbrook National Park Walks are the most popular on the Gold Coast for many reasons. You are guaranteed on your trails to experience beautiful scenery and spectacular natural creations with several lookouts, running streams, misty waterfalls all within a subtropical and temperate rainforest environment.

There are walking trails suitable for novice bushwalkers and families, along with tracks for experienced hikers who love a challenge. Springbrook National Park is one of those few places where you can experience walking through ancient rainforests that are part of an Australia World Heritage Area.

The best way to experience the Gold Coast hinterland is on foot. If you are new to bushwalking here is a list of the best Springbrook National Park Walks, including a map. Each walk has a classification guide, so you know the difficulty of the tracks.

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Springbrook National Park Hikes Classification Guide

The classification guide below was sourced from Queensland National Parks website and describes the difficulty of the Springbrook hikes with Grade 1 being easy with no bushwalking experience required and Grade 4 for those with bushwalking experience.

Grade 1 track (Easy)

No bushwalking experience required.

Flat, even surface with no steps or steep sections.

Wheelchair-accessible track with handrails at the lookout.

Grade 2 track (Easy)

No bushwalking experience required.

Easy level track, suitable for all fitness levels.

All junctions signposted and may include interpretive signs.

Grade 3 track (Moderate)

Some bushwalking experience recommended.

Tracks may have short steep hill sections, a rough surface and many steps.

Distinct tracks with junctions signposted.

Grade 4 track (Hard)

Bushwalking experience recommended.

Tracks may be long, rough and very steep with muddy sections likely to be encountered.

Limited signage.

Twin Falls Track

SPRINGBROOK NATIONAL PARK WALKS

The Springbrook National Park walks are some of our most favourite and we have explored all the walks mentioned in the below list. With more emphasis than ever on children being active and healthy by spending time outdoors, bushwalking is a great way for kids to have a fun adventure while being surrounded by nature.

Springbrook walks range from 300 metres to 54 kilometres in length. The latter being the famous Gold Coast hinterland great walk, for those hiking enthusiasts.

For those who love a short walk, are first-timers on the bushwalking scene or have kids in tow, the below list is a perfect place to start your bushwalking ventures.

Springbrook National Park Walks Map

Find HERE the Springbrook walks map of the different sections in Springbrook National Park courtesy of Queensland National Parks.

1 | SPRINGBROOK NATURAL BRIDGE

Grade 2 (Easy)

Distance return – 1 kilometre

Follow the sealed path clockwise around the Natural Bridge circuit as you descend into a green oasis of towering trees and tropical plants. One of the easiest walks if you have children in tow, the circuit leads you to the Natural Bridge rock formation that has been formed over time by the force of the waterfall over the basalt cave.

Before continuing along the path, take the steps down under the cave where you can witness the waterfall up close from the lookout area. In the evening join a guided nocturnal tour where you can witness a colony of glow worms which light up the cave similar to stars in the sky.

2 | SPRINGBROOK TWIN FALLS

Grade 3 (Moderate)

Distance return – 4 kilometres

For those who chase waterfalls, you can’t go past a walk around Twin Falls circuit Springbrook. Perfect all year round to visit, but summertime is the best if you want to swim in the rock pools at the base of the falls, as the temperatures are always cooler in the subtropical rainforest environment.

Follow the track anti-clockwise from Tallanbana trailhead as you walk down into the rainforest, along cliff edges, past running streams, and the most impressive rock caves. Once you descend on a fork in the road, take the higher track (through the cave) as this will guide you towards the waterfall where you can walk behind the falls feeling the misty spray as you circle to the front.

From this point, you can cross the concrete pathway in front of the falls reconnecting to the same path that will take you back to your starting location. Alternatively, continue down the stairs for an extended walk (with some strenuous sections) that loops through the rainforest past Canyon Lookout, and back to the Tallanbana trailhead.

3 | BEST OF ALL LOOKOUT TRACK

Grade 2 (Easy)

Distance return – 200 metres

For impressive views over Murwillumbah, Mt Warning and Brunswick Heads in New South Wales you will need to visit the aptly-named Best of All Lookout. Pass through the dense rainforest that is home to three of the most ancient trees in this area.

The Antarctic Beech trees are approximately 2000 years old and with an average height of 33 metres and circumference of 13 metres. They are significant as you’ll only discover these trees growing in a few places around Australia, and are part of the remaining links to the ancient forests of Gondwana.

4 | PURLING BROOK FALLS

Grade 3 (Moderate)

Distance return – 4 kilometres

Located in the Springbrook section of the National Park, if you have a social media account, you have likely witnessed Purling Brook Falls at some point. The four-kilometre return circuit through open eucalypt forest descends to the floor and the base of the impressive 109-metre waterfall.

It is highly recommended to walk in a clockwise direction, which takes you past one of the lookout points as there are 265 steps on this walk which are much easier to manage going down. Once you reach the falls and cross the suspension bridge, there is a steady climb (no stairs though) back up to the top where you can admire the valley views from another lookout point.

Hiking down into the gorge can be hungry work, and it is not uncommon to see people with a picnic lunch or taking a dip in the cool rock pools before continuing on their way.

Purling Brook Falls

5 | COUGAL CASCADES TRACK

Grade 2 (Easy)

Distance return – 1.6 kilometres

Located in the stunning Currumbin Valley, Cougal Cascades track would be the easiest and the most accessible track that everyone of all abilities can enjoy. There are a few small hills and a slight gradual incline in one direction, but the complete track is a sealed road making it possible for strollers and wheelchairs.

As you walk along the path, you are nestled between subtropical rainforest and rock-strewn creek beds.

The trickling sound of water becomes stronger as you near closer to Cougal Cascades. The ever-popular waterfall in this area spills over the rocks into two emerald green rock pools underneath.

There are no paths down to the creek bed, but you can see where visitors have carved their way overtime through the tree line to enjoy the cool waters.

The halfway and turning point of the track is where visitors will come across the remains of a historic old sawmill. Responsible for increasing timber production during the post-war housing boom the sawmill operated from 1945 until 1951.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Springbrook National Park is open 24 hours. It is recommended for safety reasons to only visit during the day unless you are partaking in a glow-worm night tour in the Natural Bridge section.

Always supervise children, and stay away from cliff edges.

Swimming is prohibited in some of the creek beds and rock pools, so ensure to check and obey all signage. It is also important to note for your safety never to dive or jump into water that allows swimming.

Stay on the Springbrook walking tracks for your safety and to preserve the environment.

ESSENTIALS TO TAKE

Comfortable, enclosed shoes are recommended if you are going on a short or long walk. If you have hiking shoes/boots fantastic, but if not, joggers would also suffice.

Don’t forget your camera! It will be hard to visit such beautiful locations and not take a photo to revisit the moment.

Take a sufficient amount of water and food for your walk.

Don’t forget to slip, slop, slap to prevent sunburn.

Take a small bag so that you can take your rubbish with you.

If you are prone to mosquito bites, insect repellent may come in handy.

Wear sensible clothing – the conditions can change rapidly and be several degrees cooler in subtropical environments. A raincoat and jumper may also be useful on the walks.

Do you have a favourite National Park walk? Share with me in the comments.

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